Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do students in the iGrad program earn a real high school diploma?

A: Yes. The iGrad program is offered through the Galena City School District, which is an Alaska state funded public school system. Students who complete all credit requirements and pass all sections of the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Exam are awarded a high school diploma through the Galena City School District.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: iGrad is free! We receive funding from the Alaska State Department of Education just like every other public school in Alaska. Students who are age eligible and are enrolled in the program will receive services at no cost.

Q: I’m an older student, and want to go back and earn my H.S. Diploma. Can you help me?

A: At this time we are only serving age eligible students (typically up to 19 years old, but up to 20 years old in some circumstances). However, we are working towards serving older students in the near future. Please check back with us soon for an update on our progress.

Q: I’m currently attending school, but would rather take courses at home. Can I transfer to the iGrad program?

A: iGrad was developed to help students who have dropped out of school. We do not accept transfer students who are currently attending building based programs. If you are currently enrolled in school we strongly encourage you to remain in school and pursue your diploma through that school. If you are considering dropping out, please visit your school counselor and ask them for help.

Q: I am not available to go to school during the day. Can I still enroll in the iGrad program?

A: Yes! The beauty of online courses is that they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q: Are the courses difficult?

A: That all depends. We offer a variety of courses from different online curriculum providers. All courses comply with the Alaska state curriculum guidelines. The difficulty of the course mostly depends upon your background and skill level in the subject area. Many of our courses are “credit recovery” courses, and start with a pre-test to determine what skills you already know… then the rest of the course is based around the skills you still need to master (This allows you to invest your time on only the skills that you really need to learn instead of jumping through hoops.) Being comfortable using computers also makes the courses feel easier as you get used to going to school online.